Had a young game warden screamed at me last Sunday about releasing a undersized deep hooked sandie. He wanted to know why I released a dead fish. I told him it was undersized. He said don't to be a smart [censored]. I bit my tongue. He told me not to release a dead fish. Now I'm all confused about undersized fish. My day was ruined and I went home because of that game warden. I don't dislike game warden...I have the utmost respect for them for what they do. Why did he approached me like that? Will someone explain or clarify to me about releasing an undersized fish half dead or dead is legal or not. Right now I don't feel like fishing anymore because of the way I was treated. Thank you

This comes up often, but it usually goes the other way.

If the fish was still alive and was under-sized you have no choice but to release it. Most wardens will say "you aren't God and don't KNOW that fish will die." I doubt the fish was dead when you got it to the boat, so you should have released it.

That's odd. I've always had Wardens tell me you had to throw back undersize fish no matter how badly hooked. Otherwise people could keep anything and say they kept them cause they were dead or dying. Most have even said something will eat them if they die, they won't be wasted.

Was the fish close to legal size? Maybe he thought you threw back a dead legal fish.

Please don't feel like you did anything wrong, you both have to treat each other with dignity. I also thought you released all small fish except during winter when some fish you can keep. If it was me I would follow up and remember you pay his salary

Kdub

He wanted you to keep it so he could write you a ticket.

Don't let one warden run you off from fishing! He shouldn't have approached you that way

Looks like there's gonna be a bunch of deep hooked undersized fish.
Also, if the fact that that little guy was dead negated the law, I wonder if a dead fish counts against your posession limit?
Sounds like a little anger maqnagement training is in order for one GW.
J.B.

I knew the fish was under 10" when I released it @Chookie chunker. I'm just going to let this go, but the next time I will get all his infos if I encounter this again. I agreed with all of your here. Thanks for comfort...

If it was dead, wouldn't it float?

Next time just ask him, What page in outdoor annual fishing regulation book does it say to keep undersize dead fish?

+1

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!!

Illegal to keep a undersized fish dead or alive. Except at Fork for crappie where they have a special reg.

You did the right thing. The law doesn't allow for these kind of judgement calls.

+10

This is why I have no use for, or respect for anyone who wears a Tx GW uniform. I have found them all, that I have been associated with, to be smart asses with too much authority and too much inclination to stretch that authority. This one is more of the norm than the exception.

I know I should not tar all of them with the same wide brush, but all of my experience with them demands it. If they want anyones respect they need to earn it.

I don't personally disrespect them when in contact with them on the water or afield, but I don't have to respect them unless they, at least, try to earn it.

If you disagree, OK, we are both entitled to our opinions.

That GW was a tool. Don't let him ruin your fishing, just get his ID and report him.